As green as it can get
It is just 45km north of downtown Chiang Mai, but the contrast Ban Pong presents to life in the city is staggering
Published: 6/05/2010 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Horizons
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Just an hour's drive north of downtown Chiang Mai is Ban Pong, a farm community nestled in a valley ringed by lush foliage and paddies so peaceful that I immediately took to it because of the contrast it was to city life.
Located in Mae Taeng district of the province Ban Pong, aka Muang Kaen Pattana, proved an idyllic hideout off Highway 1323 on my recent visit, with the sight of farmers working rice fields bisected by irrigation canals, children frolicking and buffaloes grazing leisurely accentuating the rustic ambience.
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Modernisation has somehow failed to make inroads in Bang Pong, or shall we say just passed by it, for here there are no convenience stores, no factories, gas stations nor state-of-the-art outlets. It is literally a green valley.
"We have a clear policy to shun factories and big businesses because they don't go hand in hand with rice farms and, besides, they would constitute a clear threat to our pop-mom shops.
"The gas stations, too, are a nuisance for they allow farmers to buy on credit which results in accumulated debt," said one resident, Taksin Donchai, whom locals affectionately call Klae.
"I am not sure how long we can keep them at bay, but as long as I am around I will try my best to keep things as they are," he added, and I could detect a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
More with Pics:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/tr...-as-it-can-get
